Tape loading device for use in a video cassette recorder

ABSTRACT

A tape loading device for a video cassette recorder (&#34;VCR&#34;) provides a simplified structure and replaces a metal pin with a resin pin molded by an outsert molding method. The tape loading device is characterized in that an intermediate gear drives a pair of loading gears and a number of resin pins supports the intermediate gear and the loading gears.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a tape loading device for use in avideo cassette recorder("VCR"); and, more particularly, to a tapeloading device having a simplified structure including a resin pinmolded by an outsert molding method.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART

Conventional VCRs are designed to draw a portion of a magnetic tape outof a cassette loaded therein and to run same in a predetermined path bymoving a pair of loading poles, which are respectively provided on asupply reel side and a take-up reel side, approximately a same distancealong both sides of a head drum. While running through the predeterminedpath, the tape makes contact with a peripheral surface of the head drum,which is provided with at least one or more heads so as torecord/reproduce audio and video signals onto/from the tape.

Such prior art loading devices are designed to perform both the cassetteloading and the tape loading functions by means of only one loadingmotor. Referring to FIG. 1, there is shown such a prior art loadingdevice. Rotatably mounted the main chassis 10 is a head drum 11 thatserves to record and reproduce video signals on and from a magnetictape. It is known that the magnetic tape may be stretched out of thetape cassette and then wound around the head drum 11 by a pair of polebases 13 which may slide along the corresponding curvilinear loadingslots 12 formed through the main chassis 10. This is typically referredto as "tape loading", as opposed to the cassette loading. Thecurvilinear loading slots 12 are arranged in a substantially symmetricalpattern about the head drum 11 to form a mirror image with respect toeach other.

A loading motor (not shown) drives a loading cam 30 for loading acassette onto the deck of a VCR and a tape around the head drum 11. Theloading cam 30 has first and second loading grooves 31 and 32 forengaging a first elongated member 40 having a first rack gear 41 toactuate a pair of loading gears 20, 20' and a second elongated member 44having a second rack gear 45 to actuate a function plate 60,respectively. The rotation of the loading cam 30 cause the first rackgear 40 to move along its axial direction; and, thereafter, the firstrack gear 40 moves to rotate the loading gears 20, 20' about a pair ofpins 21 to deploy a pair of articulated loading arms 50, thereby loadingthe tape around the head drum 11.

However, the above loading mechanism has a structural restriction inthat the movement of the first elongated member 40, for instance,applies a substantial pressure to the pins 21, thereby requiring the useof a metal pin, which incurs an extra cost. In addition, the firstelongated member 40 occupies a substantial space to complicate thestructure of the deck.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide a tapeloading device for use in a VCR having a simplified deck structure byreplacing the first elongated member with an intermediate gear having anintermittent gear portion.

Another object of the invention is to provide a tape loading devicecapable of providing a cost-effective deck mechanism by employing aresin pin, in lieu of a metal pin, molded by the outsert molding method.

The above and other objects of the present invention are accomplished bymeans of a tape loading device for use in a video cassette recorderadapted to draw a portion of a tape out of a cassette loaded in thevideo cassette recorder and to load said portion in a predetermined pathalong the circumferential periphery of a head drum therein, whichcomprises:

a cam gear having a loading groove;

an elongated member engaged with the loading groove at its one end andhaving a rack gear at its the other end;

a transmittal gear meshed with the rack gear;

a function plate having a pair of rack gear portions, one of which ismeshed with the transmittal gear;

an intermediate gear selectively engagable with the other rack gearportion of the function plate;

a loading means having a first loading gear engaged with theintermediate gear, a second loading gear engaged with the first loadinggear, a pair of linkages respectively fixed to each shaft of the firstand the second loading gears, and a pair of pole bases respectivelyfixed to one end of a lever of the linkages; and

a main chassis, on which the cam gear is rotatably mounted, having apair of loading slots formed to guide the pole bases toward the headdrum.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The above and other objects, advantages and features of the presentinvention will be apparent from the following description, taken inconjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG.1 shows a plan view of a tape loading device of the prior art;

FIG. 2 illustrates a plan view of a preferred embodiment of a tapeloading device in accordance with the present invention; and

FIGS. 3 depicts a cross-sectional view taken along line III--III of FIG.2.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

FIG. 2 illustrates a plan view of a preferred embodiment of a tapeloading device in accordance with the present invention. As shown, thetape loading device includes a main chassis 100 having a pair of loadingslots 110 to guide a pair of pole bases 122 to draw a portion of a tapeout of a loaded cassette in a video cassette recorder and to load theportion in a predetermined path along the circumferential periphery of ahead drum 105. A cam gear 130, driven by an electric motor(not shown),is rotatably mounted on the main chassis 100 and has a loading groove131 for actuating an elongated member 140 engages with the loadinggroove 131 at its one end and having a rack gear 141 at its the otherend. A rotation of the cam gear 130 causes the elongated member 140 tomove upward and downward along its axial direction. A transmittal gear150 is meshed with the rack gear 141 to rotate depending upon themovement of the elongated member 140. A function plate 160 has a pair ofrack gear portions 161 and 162 at its opposite ends, one of which ismeshed with the transmittal gear 150, and the other of which isselectively engaged with an intermediate gear 170 depending upon theoperating mode of the recorder, thereby actuating the intermediate gear170.

A loading means includes a first loading gear 130' having a stopped hearportion 120 engaged with the intermediate hear 170, a second loadinggear 120 engaged with the first loading gear 120' a pair of linkages 121respectively fixed to each shaft of the first and the second loadinggears 120' and 120, and a pair of pole bases 122 respectively fixed toone end of a lever of the linkages 121.

FIG. 3 depicts a cross-sectional view taken along line III--III of FIG.2. As shown, the loading gears 120 and 120' and the intermediate gear170 (see FIG. 2) are rotatably mounted on the main chassis 100 by anumber of resin pine 1:5 molded by an outsert molding method. Further, areinforcement plate 190 is located on the stepped gear 180 through theresin pins 125 to support the resin pins 125 in position.

Although the invention has been shown and described with respect to theexemplary embodiments, it should be understood by those skilled in theart that various changes, modifications and additions may be made,without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

What is claimed is:
 1. A tape loading device for use in a video cassetterecorder for drawing a portion of a magnetic tape out of a tape cassetteloaded thereinto and loading it around a head drum incorporated therein,the tape loading device comprising:a main chassis having a pair ofloading slots; a cam gear having a loading groove, the cam gear beingrotatably mounted on the main chassis; an elongated member having a rackgear at one end, the other end thereof being fitted into the loadinggroove; a transmittal gear meshed with the rack gear, the transmittalgear being rotatably mounted on the main chassis; an intermediate gearrotatably mounted on the main chassis through an intermediate gearshaft; a function plate having a pair of rack gear portions, one rackgear portion being meshed with the transmittal gear, the other, beingselectively engaged with the intermediate gear; and a loading meansincluding a first and a second loading gears, a pair of loading gearshafts, a pair of articulated linkages, and a pair of pole bases,wherein the first and the second loading gears are rotatably mounted onthe main chassis through the loading gear shafts, respectively, thefirst loading gear having a stepped gear portion, the stepped gearportion being engaged with the intermediate gear, the second loadinggear being engaged with the first loading gear, and the articulatedlinkages are fixed to the loading gear shafts at one ends, respectively,and the pole bases are fixed to the other ends of the linkages andfitted into the loading slots of the main chassis, respectively, each ofthe pole bases moving along the corresponding loading slot.
 2. The tapeloading device of claim 1, further comprising:a reinforcement platefixed on upper ends of the intermediate gear shaft and the loading gearshafts.